Did you know that 63.3% of all websites use WordPress?
Whether you’re planning to launch a new website or looking to upgrade your existing one, WordPress is a must-have. Its features make it easier for websites to have more features that help drive more traffic.
It’s the industry standard for good reasons.
But if you’re inexperienced in making websites, you might ask, “is WordPress hard to use?” Don’t fret, we’ve got your back with essential WordPress tips for web design.
WordPress is an easy-to-use content management system once you know a few good tips. Read this guide learn more today:
1. Use Premium Themes Instead
Everyone loves free stuff, that’s why most web designers are fond of WordPress. The platform has lots of free themes that cater to various websites. It’s easy to step into this pitfall since you’re unlikely to know how problematic a lot of free themes are.
The main issue with most free themes is the functionality, with code structure a common secondary problem. This isn’t much of an issue if you don’t plan to change it a lot, but it’s a pain if you want to make a theme truly your own.
That’s why it’s better to spend some money to get some premium themes. These have flexible structures with high-quality coding. Also, you’re guaranteed to get an array of functionalities that complement the professional-looking design.
2. Be Selective of Your Plugins
WordPress plugins are important since they can expand your website’s functionality. But one major drawback of some is the performance issues they might bring. The upside is that you can be more stringent when picking the plugins you want from the Plugin Directory.
A good practice is to get the barest plugins you’ll need for your website. If you’re fond of testing new plugins, uninstall them once you deem they aren’t useful. But before you install anything, look at the plugin developers and ensure that they’re reputable enough.
If you aren’t sure whether the plugin is good, do your homework and search for reviews and ratings online. Compare the good ratings with the bad and decide whether it’s worth your time. But if you can’t find anything conclusive, install it and check its effects on your website.
3. Go Beyond Normal WordPress Designs
Once you know how to use WordPress, avoid the pitfall of the platform’s simplicity. It’s easy to get started, but it’s easier to become repetitive with its design. Even if your website looks aesthetically pleasing, it might be a carbon copy of others.
So, don’t settle for something mediocre and become just another WordPress website. Take this tip both in a literal and figurative sense. Always push your website’s limits and continuously improve your visitors’ experience whenever possible.
Also, don’t forget to remove the “Just another WordPress site” subhead from your website titles. It’s a common beginner mistake. If you don’t, you’re giving your visitors a less favorable impression.
4. Optimize Your Speed
Webmasters who don’t care about their website speed aren’t likely to get visitors. The average speed of a website’s mobile landing page is 22 seconds. The bad news is that around 53% of visitors will leave a mobile page if it doesn’t load within three seconds.
If you didn’t make these observations before, it’s time to analyze your website speed. You have lots of methods, plugins, and adjustments at your disposal. These can help you check your speed while giving you ways to optimize it.
But if you want to commit to your website’s faster loading speeds, invest resources. Educate yourself and learn about technological solutions to slow speeds. Check out this guide and learn about the WordPress redirect page feature and its benefits to your website design.
5. Make Your Permalinks More Readable
These are permanent URLs that direct users to a specific part of your website. The standard WordPress format for permalinks is something easy for computers to understand. The drawback is that they look like gibberish when read by humans.
Your goal as a site owner is to make your website experience more visitor-friendly. That’s why changing the permalinks into something more readable by humans. Use the post name structure since the website uses its headline as part of the page’s URL.
This makes your post easier to find and consume by visitors. The added benefit is in the SEO department, meaning your website can rank higher in Google. Among other WordPress tips, the benefits of this make it a worthier investment.
6. Use Child Themes Instead of Modifying the Child Themes
Regardless of the framework and theme you use, don’t change default themes. Most beginners make this mistake and fail with their web development efforts. But working with WordPress makes it easier and simpler to use child themes.
The goal of these themes is to either add or change your current theme’s functionality without changing its core files. With that, you can update your website with minimal hassle. This might sound like a complex idea, but working with it isn’t a big deal once you get used to it.
To make the most out of this feature, ensure your website is responsive. That means it can adjust to all screen sizes, device orientation, and platform used by visitors. With that, anyone can access your website, regardless of the gadget they use.
7. Use the Right Fonts
Most beginners aren’t familiar with the importance of fonts on their websites. If you settle for custom fonts, know that it’s a time-consuming task. Do your research and choose your favored fonts carefully.
The website font is the reflection of your brand’s personality. If you want to become a more reputable brand, avoid using bad, goofy fonts. Otherwise, your target audience will find it difficult to take you seriously.
Learn More WordPress Tips for Web Design Today!
These are some WordPress tips for web design you can try today. They’re simple enough, meaning you won’t need as much technical experience to learn these.
Of course, getting the most out of WordPress doesn’t end here. We invite you to continue checking out our content today to pick up even more useful tips and tricks! Start optimizing your website to beat the competition!
